Project Dashboard

Project Overview

Type of application: New

Proponent name:

Dr. Calvin Campbell

Company:

Natural Resources Canada

Schedule:

Start Date:

2017-07-22

End Date:

2017-08-28

Operation Type:

Seasonal

Project Description:

The expedition MSM66 with the German research vessel Maria S. Merian is planned to depart from Nuuk, Greenland on the 22nd of July 2017 and arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland on the 28th of August 2017. It is a collaborative project of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, the MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, the Université du Québec à Montréal, the Université Laval, the Université du Québec à Rimouski and the Geological Survey of Canada (Natural Resources Canada). Information collected during this project will be provided to community and government and has the potential to support decisions on use of offshore areas and provide communities with better knowledge for improving public safety.
All scientific activities are proposed for the Baffin Bay, mostly in front of the Lancaster Sound and offshore Baffin Island. If time permits, additional work in fjords e.g. Clyde Fjord could be possible.
The goals of the proposed research during expedition MSM66 will be:
- to reconstruct ice sheet dynamics by investigating the drainage of the northeast Laurentide ice sheet through Lancaster Sound during the last glacial and the deglaciation. This will be done by multibeam and sediment echosounder surveys providing information on the spatial and temporal development of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.
- to reconstruct the pathway of Arctic waters through the Baffin Bay. Study of past oceanography will be based on gravity and box cores collected form the shelf, continental slope and basin areas. If time permits, a limited number of gravity and box cores will collected from fjords.
- to carry out experiments on foraminifera (micro-organisms) under controlled temperature, salinity and carbonate ion concentration conditions. Hauls with a small, hand-held plankton net will be performed to catch foraminifera.
In addition to the purely scientific aspects, the proposal is designed to foster German/Canadian collaborations by providing shipboard training for students of the German-Canadian ArcTrain program and helps to establish German-Canadian networks amongst early career scientists.
The working programme on board is separated into seafloor mapping activities with multibeam and echosounder, and sampling activities. Based on the multibeam and echosounder data, sites will be selected for subsequent sediment sampling with gravity and box corers. The sampling will target glacial seabed features e.g. moraines and drumlins in order to date these structures. In addition, sites of high sediment accumulation will be targeted for past oceanography work. These sampling sites are those with the most pronounced Arctic influence. Water column work will include conductivity, temperature and depth measurements and hauls with a small plankton net. Plankton will be collected for on board experiments.

NORTH BAFFIN QUESTIONAIRE

s3.13.8: The applicant undertakes to prevent any new occurrences of pollution, garbage and contamination at the site of the development.

YES

Removal of Fuel Drums:

s3.13.8: The applicant undertakes to remove all drums safely from the site and dispose of the drums in a safe manner.

YES

New Site Restoration and Clean Up:

s3.13.1 and Appendix H, s1: The applicant undertakes to clean up the site and restore the site to its natural condition to the greatest extent possible.

YES

Old Site Restoration and Clean Up:

s3.13.2: The applicant undertakes to clean up the site and restore the site to its original condition to the greatest extent possible, including any work required due to the applicant's action prior to this application.

YES

Low-Level Air Flights:

Appendix H, s3: Will the applicant avoid all low-level flights?

YES

Caribou Protection Measures:

s3.3.7 and Appendix D: Will the applicant comply with the Caribou Protection Measures outlined in section 2.4.6 and in Appendix D?

YES

Caribou Water Crossings:

s3.3.7 and map: Will the applicant avoid, between may 15 and September 1, to construct any camp, cache any fuel or conduct any blasting within 10 km of any Designated Caribou Water Crossing identified

YES

Polar Bear Denning Areas and Walrus Haul-outs:

s3.3.8: Will the applicant keep its activities away from any polar bear denning area or walrus haul-out?

YES

HERITAGE RESOURCES

Reporting of Archaeological Sites:

s3.11.3 and Appendix H, s2 and s8: Will the applicant immediately report the discovery of all suspected archaeological sites to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (GN)?

YES

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Scientific Research:

s3.9.3: Does the project proposal involve scientific research?

YES

If yes, will the applicant integrate all available and relevant local and traditional knowledge when conducting its research?

YES

Consultation with Nunavut Research Institute:

s3.9.5: Has the applicant consulted with the Nunavut Research Institute about research topics that would benefit or interest local residents?

YES

i. Describe the results of your consultation.

This research expedition contributes to Geological Hazard research being conducted offshore Nunavut by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Calvin Campbell, the NRCan proponent, has met with NRI in the past to discuss research priorities. He has also visited several Baffin communities to discuss the research and get feedback (Pond Inlet- March 2014; Clyde River in March 2014, May 2015, March 2016; Qikiqtarjuaq in March 2014, May 2015, March 2016; Pangnirtung in May 2015; and Iqaluit in May 2015, March 2016). In general, both NRI and the communites are supportive of the research.

Local Services and Local Employment:

s3.9.4: Will the applicant rely on local services and employment where possible?

YES

i. Describe the services retained and the people to be employed.

This research is in coordination with another expedition on the CCGS Hudson. For that expedition, research assistants from Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq and/or Pangnirtung will be hired to participate in the work onboard the research vessel.

Communication on Scientific Research:

s3.2.8: The applicant will, at minimum, translate a summary of its work into Inuktitut and communicate with communities using language that is clear and non-technical. The results of all scientific re

YES

MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL TRANSPORTATION

Corridor:

s3.5.11, s3.3.5.12: Does the proposal consider the development of a transportation and/or communications corridor?

NO

Code of Good Conduct for Land Users:

Appendix H: The applicant undertakes to adhere to the code of Good Conduct at all times.

YES

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